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[[Image:Blakes imageof creation.jpg|thumb|250px|William Blake's  
[[Image:Blakes imageof creation.jpg|thumb|250px|William Blake's  
"Urizen as the Creator of the Material World" from Europe, A Prophecy. 1794.]]
"Urizen as the Creator of the Material World" from Europe, A Prophecy. 1794.]]
'''Creationism''' is a system of belief which postulates the [[universe]], [[Earth]] and life were deliberately created by an intelligent being, namely [[God]].


== Schools of Thought ==
'''Creationism''' is a belief system which postulates that the universe, Earth, and life on Earth were deliberately created by an intelligent being.  There are a spectrum of creationist views with two main schools of [[creation]] thought known as ''religious creationism'' and [[intelligent design]].
Within the main schools of thought lies differing beliefs with regard to the manifestations of the creation (i.e. universe, organisms, humans).


===Universal creationism===
== Types of creationism ==
Universal creationism is a fundamental tenet of the major monotheistic religions. Human creationism is also a tenet expressed or implied. It is the doctrine or belief that the universe was created by God out of no pre-existent entity. It is thus opposed to all forms of [[pantheism]].
Within the main schools of thought lies differing beliefs with regard to the manifestations of the creation (i.e. universe, organisms, humans). [[Universal creationism]] is a fundamental tenet of the major monotheistic religions. [[Human creationism]] is also a tenet expressed or implied. Some form of [[biological creationism]] with the creator identified as God has traditionally been believed among adherents of the major monotheistic religions. Because of the acceptance of [[evolutionism]] among many intellectuals, [[biological creationism]] has lost influence.  However, in recent decades a movement has arisen to defend creationism on theological, philosophical, and scientific grounds.  This is commonly called simply ''creationism''.


===Biological creationism===
Various types of ''creationism'' may also be distinguished based on the grounds and arguments employed.  Thus there is religious or theological creationism, philosophical creationism, and scientific creationism. In practice, these types of ''creationism'' often overlap. However, scientific creationism, especially [[intelligent design]], employs scientific arguments and avoids religious or theological references.
Some form of biological creationism with the Creator as identified as God has traditionally been believed among adherents of the major monotheistic religions. Because of the acceptance of [[evolutionism]] among many intellectuals, biological creationism has lost influence. However, in recent decades a movement has arisen to defend creationism on theological, philosophical, and scientific grounds. This is commonly called creationism or creation apologetics.


It is the doctrine or belief that the various species or kinds of living beings were created and so are not the product of a naturalistic process. The creator is usually identified as [[supernatural]] and thus opposed to [[evolutionism]].
=== Universal creationism ===
[[Universal creationism]] - the doctrine or belief that the universe was created by God out of no pre-existent entity. It is thus opposed to all forms of [[pantheism]].


===Human creationism===
=== Biological creationism ===
The doctrine or belief that each human soul is created, notably by God. It is thus opposed to [[traducianism]].
[[Biological creationism]] - the doctrine or belief that the various species or kinds of living beings were created and so are not the product of a naturalistic process. The creator is usually identified as God, the creator of the universe. It is thus opposed to [[evolutionism]].


== Types of Creationism ==
=== Human creationism ===
There are a spectrum of creationist views with two main schools of [[creation]] thought known as religious creationism and [[intelligent design]].  
[[Human creationism]] - the doctrine or belief that each human soul is created, notably by God. It is thus opposed to [[traducianism]].


Various types of creationism may also be distinguished based on the grounds and arguments employed. Thus there is religious or theological creationism, philosophical creationism, and scientific creationism. In practice, these types of creationism often overlap and compliment eachother to make a full worldview worthy of believing. However, scientific creationism, especially [[intelligent design]], employs scientific arguments and avoids religious or theological references.
=== Religious Creationism ===
[[Religious Creationism]] is the belief that the universe and life on Earth were created by an almighty deity. The position has a deep rooted foundation in scripture, which is relied upon for insights regarding the history of the world. Within the creationism camp can be found [[young earth]] and [[old earth]] advocates.  
*[[Biblical creationism]] based on the Bible
*[[Islamic creationism]] based on the Qur'an


===Religious Creationism===
=== Philosophical creationism ===
The belief that the universe and life on Earth were created by an almighty deity. The position has a deep rooted foundation in the Bible, which is relied upon for insights regarding the history of the world. Within creationism there are [[young earth]] and [[old earth]] advocates.  
[[Philosophical creationism]] is the defense of creationism on philosophical grounds. It is related to philosophical arguments for the existence of God and became part of [[natural theology]].


===Pilosophical Creationism===
=== Scientific creationism ===
The defense of creationism on philosophical grounds. It is related to philosophical arguments for the existence of God and became part of [[natural theology]].
[[Scientific creationism]] is the defense of creationism on scientific grounds. While this arose before [[evolutionism]], for example with the [[scriptural geologists]], it is best known as arguments against [[evolution]] and for one or more scientific hypotheses or theories of [[biological creation]].  This includes [[young earth creationism]], [[old earth creationism]], and [[intelligent design]].


===Scientific Creationism===
=== Intelligent design ===
The defense of creationism on scientific grounds.  While this arose before [[evolutionism]] it is best known as arguments against [[evolution]] and for one or more scientific hypotheses or theories of [[biological creation]]. This includes [[young earth creationism]], [[old earth creationism]], and intelligent design.
[[Intelligent design]] (ID) infers that natural laws and chance alone are not adequate to explain all natural phenomena. It is not governed by religious doctrine, nor does it make claims about who the creator was. ID uses no religious texts when forming theories about the history of the world. ID simply postulates that the universe possesses evidence that it was intelligently designed.
*[[Restricted Intelligent Design]] seeks evidence of design by comparing it to human design.
*[[General Intelligent Design]] states that every natural process is intelligently designed.
*[[Extraterrestrial creationism]] is the view that life on Earth was created by a race of extraterrestrials which came to be worshipped by men as gods and described in ancient religious texts.


===Intelligent Design===
== Introduction to creationism ==
ID infers that natural laws and chance alone are not adequate to explain all natural phenomena. It is not governed by religious doctrine, nor does it make claims about who the creator was. ID uses no religious texts when forming theories about the history of the world. ID simply postulates that the universe possesses evidence that it was intelligently designed.
* [[Restricted Intelligent Design]] seeks evidence of design by comparing it to human design.
* [[General Intelligent Design]] states that every natural process is intelligently designed.
* [[Extraterrestrial creationism]] is the view that life on Earth was created by a race of extraterrestrials which came to be worshipped by men as gods and described in ancient religious texts.


== Introduction to Creationism ==
For an '''Introduction to creationism''', the following articles may be helpful:
For an introduction to creationism, the following articles may be helpful:


=== Disciplines in creationism ===
* [[Disciplines in creationism]]: Creationism is multidisciplinary, involving [[science]], [[history]], [[philosophy]], and [[religion]]. These disciplines are interdependent, and creationism cannot be understood at all unless it is understood in light of all these disciplines.
:''Main article: [[Disciplines in creationism]]''
* [[Philosophy of science]]: Science is only as good as the philosophy that organizes it. Evolutionism and creationism are based on two different philosophies of science which are similar in many ways, but also bear important differences. It is impossible to understand creationism without understanding its philosophy of science and understanding ''why'' creationists believe it to be correct.
Creationism is multidisciplinary, involving [[science]], [[history]], [[philosophy]], and [[religion]]. These disciplines are interdependent, and creationism cannot be understood at all unless it is understood in light of all these disciplines.
* [[Epistemology of the Bible]]: Creationists and evolutionists have different views about how the Bible should be used or interpreted. Creationism is based on the belief that the Bible is a historically accurate account of ancient events. Evolutionism is based on the belief that there are no supernatural causes, and asserts that the Bible is either allegorical or mythological, but not historical. It is impossible to understand creationism without understanding the historical accounts in the Bible, and why creationists believe them to be accurate.
 
=== Philosophy of science ===
:''Main article: [[Philosophy of science]]''
This is only as good as the philosophy that organizes it. Evolutionism and creationism are based on two different philosophies of science which are similar in many ways, but also bear important differences. It is impossible to understand creationism without understanding its philosophy of science and understanding ''why'' creationists believe it to be correct.
 
===Epistemology of the Bible ===
Creationists and evolutionists have different views about how the Bible should be used or interpreted. Creationism is based on the belief that the Bible is a historically accurate account of ancient events. Evolutionism is based on the belief that there are no supernatural causes, and asserts that the Bible is either allegorical or mythological, but not historical. It is impossible to understand creationism without understanding the historical accounts in the Bible, and why creationists believe them to be accurate.
* [[Genesis]]: The book of Genesis accounts provide a great deal more than an account of "Seven days of creation."  They provide an intricate and detailed record of historical events and people that spans around 2,000 years.  It is impossible to understand creationism without understanding the depth and breadth of the history in Genesis, and why creationists believe it actually occurred.
* [[Genesis]]: The book of Genesis accounts provide a great deal more than an account of "Seven days of creation."  They provide an intricate and detailed record of historical events and people that spans around 2,000 years.  It is impossible to understand creationism without understanding the depth and breadth of the history in Genesis, and why creationists believe it actually occurred.
* [[Flood geology]]: A large volume of literature and evidence has been amassed regarding the [[Global flood]] of Noah.  Flood geologists believe that the Earth's geological features can only reasonably by explained with reference to the enormous and horrifying flood covered the Earth 4-5,000 years ago which was recorded and remembered by every culture in the ancient world.
* [[Flood geology]]: A large volume of literature and evidence has been amassed regarding the [[Global flood]] of Noah.  Flood geologists believe that the Earth's geological features can only reasonably by explained with reference to the enormous and horrifying flood covered the Earth 4-5,000 years ago which was recorded and remembered by every culture in the ancient world.
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== History of Creationism ==
== History of Creationism ==
:''Main article: [[History of creationism]]''
:''Main article: [[History of creationism]]''


Creationism has a history of several thousand years, and has found itself in conflict with [[evolutionism]] nearly as long. Notable early pagan proponents included [[Lao Tzu]], [[Plato]], and [[Cicero]]. The [[Hebrew]] scriptures provide the most detailed and best known creation account, known as [[Biblical creationism]], which is accepted by the majority of orthodox Christians and Jews. [[Islamic creationism]] is identical to the core narrative of biblical creationism, but has some subtle differences. In the 19th century, with the dawning of the scientific method, creationists began a systematic research program, known as [[creation science]], which grew in prominence throughout the 20th century until today. During the same time period, however, creationism came to be excluded from mainstream scientific discourse and public education, so that its research and education took place almost entirely through private means. In the late 20th century and early 21st century, a movement known as [[intelligent design]] grew in prominence, which seeks only to provide positive evidence that life, the earth, and the universe was designed, without explicitly identifying the designer.
Creationism has a history of several thousand years, and has found itself in conflict with [[evolutionism]] nearly as long. Notable early pagan proponents included [[Lao Tzu]], [[Plato]], and [[Cicero]]. The [[Hebrew]] scriptures provide the most detailed and best known creation account, known as [[Biblical creationism]], which is accepted by the majority of orthodox Christians and Jews. [[Islamic creationism]] is identical to the core narrative of Biblical creationism, but has some subtle differences. In the 19th century, with the dawning of the scientific method, creationists began a systematic research program, known as [[Creation science]], which grew in prominence throughout the 20th century until today. During the same time period, however, creationism came to be excluded from mainstream scientific discourse and public education, so that its research and education took place almost entirely through private means. In the late 20th century and early 21st century, a movement known as [[Intelligent design]] grew in prominence, which seeks only to provide positive evidence that life, the earth, and the universe was designed, without explicitly identifying the designer.


According to a 2004 Gallup poll, 45% of Americans believe God created humans within the last 10,000 years, 38% believe God guided evolution, 13% believe evolution occured without God's guidance, and 4% believe something else or have no opinion.
According to a 2004 Gallup poll, 45% of Americans believe God created humans within the last 10,000 years, 38% believe God guided evolution, 13% believe evolution occured without God's guidance, and 4% believe something else or have no opinion.


== Comparison of Beliefs ==
== Comparison of Beliefs ==
{| border="1" cellpadding="2"  
{| border="1" cellpadding="2"  
!width="10%"| '''Name'''  
!width="10%"| '''Name'''  
!width="24%"| '''Age of Earth'''  
!width="24%"| '''Opinion on age of Earth'''  
!width="24%"| '''Origin of Life'''
!width="24%"| '''Opinion on origin of life'''
!width="24%"| '''Genesis'''
!width="24%"| '''Opinion on Genesis'''
|-  
|-  
| '''Young Earth Creationism'''
| [[Young earth creationism]]
| The Earth is no older than 10,000 years. Hydrogen diffusion, radio halos, the decay of the Earth's magnetic field, and many other facts cap the Earth's age at below 10,000 years.  Radiometric dating, claimed as evidence that the Earth is old, is based on false premises, and is unreliable.
| The Earth is no older than 10,000 years. Hydrogen diffusion, radio halos, the decay of the Earth's magnetic field, and many other facts cap the Earth's age at below 10,000 years.  [[Radiometric dating]], claimed as evidence that the Earth is old, is based on false premises, and is unreliable.
| Elohim deliberately and quickly created all of the [[created kinds]] on Earth, fully intact, with the capacity for biological evolution. He then looked at what he had created and said "''It is very good.''"
| Elohim deliberately and quickly created all of the [[created kinds]] on Earth, fully intact, with the capacity for [[biological evolution]]. He then looked at what he had created and said "It is very good."
| Genesis was intended as a history, and its timelines and precise dates it gives for events ought to be taken at face value. The [[days of creation]] are viewed as literal, 24-hour periods because the phrase, "''and there was evening, and there was morning, the second day''" cannot be reasonably interpreted as meaning anything other than a 24-hour day.
| Genesis was intended as a history, and its timelines and precise dates it gives for events ought to be taken at face value. The [[days of creation]] are viewed as literal, 24-hour periods because the phrase "and there was evening, and there was morning, the second day" cannot be reasonably interpreted as meaning anything other than a 24-hour day.
|-  
|-  
| '''Progressive Creationism'''
| [[Progressive creationism]]
| The Earth is approximately 4.6 billion years old. The universe is approximately 13.7 billion years old. Radiometric dating is an accurate means of determining the age of the Earth.
| The [[Earth]] is approximately 4.6 billion years old. The universe is approximately 13.7 billion years old. [[Radiometric dating]] is an accurate means of determining the age of the Earth.
| God created life on Earth slowly and gradually, over millions and billions of years, either by means of evolution or by waiting millions of years between acts of creation.
| God created life on Earth slowly and gradually, over millions and billions of years, either by means of evolution or by waiting millions of years between acts of creation.
|The days of creation in Genesis represent long periods of time, not literal 24-hour days. To support this, [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2pe%203&version=31 2 Peter 3:8] is often cited. Young-earth creationists, however, maintain that this is a misquotation, and that the verse is intended as an expression of the timelessness of God, not as a guideline to interpret the 'days' of Genesis (or the 'days' of any other part of the Bible, for that matter).
|The [[days of creation]] in Genesis represent long periods of time, not literal 24-hour days. To support this, [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2pe%203&version=31 2 Peter 3]:8 is often cited. Young-earth creationists, however, maintain that this is a misquotation, and that the verse is intended as an expression of the timelessness of God, not as a guideline to interpret the 'days' of Genesis (or the 'days' of any other part of the Bible, for that matter).
|-
|-
| '''Theistic Evolution'''
| [[Theistic evolution]]
| The Earth is approximately 4.6 billion years old. The universe is approximately 13.7 billion years old. Radiometric dating is an accurate means of determining the age of the Earth.
| The [[Earth]] is approximately 4.6 billion years old. The universe is approximately 13.7 billion years old. [[Radiometric dating]] is an accurate means of determining the age of the Earth.
| Life evolved on Earth by means of variation and [[natural selection]], over millions and billions of years. God acted through natural means, and thus in a way indistinguishable from the ordinary course of nature.
| Life evolved on Earth by means of variation and [[natural selection]], over millions and billions of years. God acted through natural means, and thus in a way indistinguishable from the ordinary course of nature.
| The creation story in Genesis is not history. It is a mythological allegory intended to present meaning.
| The [[creation]] story in [[Genesis]] is not history. It is a mythological allegory intended to present meaning.
|}
|}


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== Related References ==
== Related References ==
* [http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/faq/compromise.asp Creation Compromises: Gap Theory, Theistic Evolution, Progressive Creation] by [[Answers in Genesi]]s
 
* [http://www.icr.org/index.php?module=articles&action=view&ID=164 Theistic Evolution and the Day-Age Theory] by Richard Niessen
*[http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/faq/compromise.asp Creation Compromises: Gap Theory, Theistic Evolution, Progressive Creation] by Answers in Genesis
* [[Refuting Compromise]] by [[Jonathan Sarfati]]. 2004, ISBN 0-890514-11-9
*[http://www.icr.org/index.php?module=articles&action=view&ID=164 Theistic Evolution and the Day-Age Theory] by Richard Niessen
* [http://www.whoisyourcreator.com/ A compendium of mainsteam-media reports that evolutionism is under serious debate and even outright doubt in scientific circles] Who Is Your Creator?
*[[Refuting Compromise]] by [[Jonathan Sarfati]]. 2004, ISBN 0-890514-11-9
*[http://www.whoisyourcreator.com/ Who Is Your Creator?] A compendium of mainsteam-media reports that evolutionism is under serious debate and even outright doubt in scientific circles.


== See Also ==
== See Also ==
* [[Exegesis]]
* [[Mutations]]
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{{creationism portal}}


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